BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Villanova field hockey picked up their third straight win on Sunday in a 2-0 shutout win over Lehigh on the road. The shutout marks the fourth shutout win of the season for Villanova and third shutout in a row.
Senior Gemma Lysaght got the scoring started in the second quarter with her sixth goal of the season. Late in the fourth, it was freshman Adie Minnella who gave Villanova the 2-0 lead off a penalty stroke for her second goal of the season.
The opening period was controlled by the Wildcats' offense, who got things rolling early in the action. VU collected nine total shots throughout the period with seven being shots on goal in addition to tallying six penalty corners. In their first penalty corner, it was Aimee Largoza and Ava Borkowski who each put up shots but were saved by goalkeeper Kate Burgess. Villanova immediately collected three separate penalty corners within the next minute of action, however, were unable to cash in. Later in the quarter, it was once again Molly Zimmerman who collected the penalty corner and set up Gemma Lysaght and Erin Mitchell for chances that fell short. Burgess collected seven saves in the quarter to keep the score 0-0.
Both sides clamped down defensively throughout the second quarter, only allowing four total shots in the action. It was Largoza who collected a shot just over a minute into the quarter, followed by a shot by Lehigh's Samantha Hillman. Neither side found any chances until late in the frame where it was Molly Zimmerman who set up a VU penalty corner. Zimmerman found Maeve Boston who set up Gemma Lysaght for the shot that flew past the goalie for the score. The goal marked Lysaght's sixth of the season while it was Boston's eighth assist and Zimmerman's sixth. Villanova went into the half up one to nothing.
The Wildcats' kept the pressure on in the third and tallied six shots in the action along with two corners. Zimmerman set up a penalty corner just under a minute into the action, where it was Colleen Finnan who had her shot blocked by the Mountain Hawks' defense. It was then Lehigh who had its first chance on a penalty corner but got turned away by VU's defense. Villanova then rattled off two penalty corners and picked up two shots late but were unable to add onto its lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Both teams turned up the intensity defensively at the start of the fourth quarter. It was the Wildcats' defense that allowed just one shot by Lehigh throughout the entire quarter while Lehigh held Villanova to just two midway through the action. The Mountain Hawks then pulled their goalkeeper late in the fourth quarter with five minutes to go. Soon after, it was Adie Minnella earned herself a penalty stroke. The freshman didn't miss and cashed in on her second goal of the season and extended the lead to 2-0. Villanova kept the pressure offensively, tallying two additional shots before the clock hit zeros and gave the 'Cats the win.
In goal, senior Maddi Sears held things down defensively for her fourth shutout of the season while facing zero shots. She moves her record to 5-1 on the season.
Up Next: Villanova will stay on the road for its BIG EAST opener against UConn on Friday, September 18 at 3 p.m..
